US and China clash over 6G standards and spectrum

The United States launched a 6G Leadership and Security coalition on 27 January, signing 24 nations—including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom—to coordinate research, standards work and security for the next‑generation mobile network. The effort, run by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), excludes Brazil and does not bind participants to a common policy.

At the same time, the US government authorized a study of the 4.4 GHz band and three other frequency ranges to reorganise spectrum for commercial 6G use, aiming to “defeat” China in the technology race. China’s state media has criticised the coalition as a repeat of the 5G strategy that sought to isolate Chinese vendors. Standardisation for 6G is already underway in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).